Bandwagon Vol 35 No 1 (1991)

56 Pages·59.3 MB·English

by  Circus Historical Society

A.1.31305 1V3ItIO.I.S1H snDenD 3H1
JO 1VNtInor 3HJ.
Ronald Hamm 3663
7332 Drew Ave. North
Brooklyn Park, MN 55443
George Morgey, Jr. 3664
39 Princeton Ave.
Bellmawr, NJ 08031
Danny McLean
1975 Coronado Dr.
Rivera, AZ 86442
ol. 35, No. 1 January -February 1991
FRI;,D D. PEENING JR., EDITOR
Jeanette Williams
Fred D. Pfening HI, Managing Editor -Bill Biggerstaff, Production and Graphics 011 61st St.
Joseph T. Bradbury, Associate Editor Sarasota, FL 34243
BANDWAGON, The Journal of the Circus Historical Society (USPS 406-390 (ISSN 0005 4968), is published bi-
monthly. Second class postage paid at Columbus, OH. Editorial, advertising and circulation office is located at
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Offices of the Circus Historical Society are located at 1030 elestnut Blvd Chesterton IN 46304.
CIRCUS HISTORICAL SOCIETY -John F Polacsek President 5980 Lannoo Detroit MI 48236; Fred Dahlinger, CORRECTION
Jr., Vice President, 1030 Chestnut Blvd., Chesterton, IN 46304; Mrs. Johann W. Dahlinger, Secretary -Treasurer,
030 Chestnut Blvd Chesterton IN 46304.
The Davenport Family article that ap-
DIRECTORS: Div. 1 -Fred D. Pfening, Jr., 2515 Dorset Rd., Columbus, OH 43221 (Ohio -Mich. -Ind.); Div. 2 -
Copeland MacAllister, 30 Salem End Rd., #2A, Framingham, MA 01701 (N.H.-Maine-Vt.-Mass.-Ct.-Del.-RI.); Div. peared in the November -December 1990
3 -William L. Rhodes, 2528 Taylorsville Rd., Louisville, KY 40205 (N.Y.-N.J.-Pa.-Md.-D.C.-Va.-W. Va.-Ky.); Div. 4 - issue stated that Orrin Davenport ap-
Joseph T. Bradbury, 1453 Ashwoody Ct., N.E., Atlanta, GA 30319(N.C.-S.C.-Ga.-Ala..-Fla.-Miss.-Tenn.-Ark.-La.); peared in 1924 on Hagenbeck-Wallace
Div. 5 -Robert Parkinson, 101 Litchfield La., Baraboo, WI 53913 (Wis.-M.-Minn.-Iowa-Mo.); Div. 6 -Orin C. King,
and the Moslem Shrine. He was on the
5225 SW 20 Terrace #302, Topeka, KS 66604 (N.D.-S.D.-Kan.-Neb.-Okla,-Tex.); Div. 7 -Joseph S. Rettinger, P.O. Box
0371 Phoenix AZ 85036 (Col.-Mont-Ida-Wyo-NM-Utah-Nev-Ariz.); Div. 8 -Michael D. Sporrer, 14537 N.E. Hagenbeck show in 1924 and at the Mos-
0th St #H202 Bellevue WA 98007 (Wa-Ore-Ca-Hawaii); Div 9 -Dr. Gordon D. Brown, 7459 Saskatchewan Dr., lem Shrine and New York Hippodrome in
dmonton, Alb., Can. 76G-2ik5 (All countries outside the United States.)
925.
The cutines of Davenport illustrations
THIS 1\40NTH'S COVER Scott Sullivan at the bottom of pages 26 and 27 were
9033 Capitol Dr. #1-H
Alfredo Codona and Lillian Leitzel were Des Plaines, IL 60016
known as the king and queen of the circus
on the Ringling Bros. & Barnum and Bailey Ray Cornew AVAILABLE
show in the late 1920s. Their marriage in 194 Vista Dr.
BACK ISSUES OF
1929 was short lived. Marlton NJ 08053
Leitzel fell in Copenhagen, Denmark
BANDWAGON
and died on March 15, 1931. Codona erect- James Haug
ed a large monument in the Inglewood Ce- 2954 N. 60th St.
metery, Long Beach, California. The monu- Milwaukee, WI 53210
ment, titled "Reunion," containing 1967 -July -Aug Nov -Dec.
marble sculputure of Codona with wings Lyle Coates 1968 -All but Jan. -Feb.
embracing Leitzel, was unveiled on De- 064 Crestview Circle 1969 -Jan. -Feb., July -Aug., Sept. -Oct.
cember 10 1931. At the base of the statue Baraboo, WI 53913 1970 -All but July -Aug., Sept. -Oct.
are two trapeze rings, one broken. Fo 1971 -All but May -June.
lowing his death Codona was buried next Tony Greiner 972All availble.
to Leitzel on August 3, 1937. 65 17th Ave. NE 1973 -All but Jan.-Feb.,Nov.-Dec.
This 1929 Harry Atwell photograph is St. Petersburg FL 33704 974-1975All available.
from the Evelyn Joyce Cook collection. 1976 -All but Jan. -Feb., Nov. -Dec.
Glen Cocke 1977 -All but Mar.-Ap.
DUES NOTICES 522 Woodhurst Dr. 1978 -86 -All available.
Nashville, TN 37220 1987 -All but Nov. -Dec.
Circus Historical Society dues and sub- 1988 -90 -All available.
scription invoices for the fiscal year start- Art Christensen
Price is now $3.00 each.
ing May 1, 1991 will be mailed in March. 1622 Dakota
Add $2.00 postage one issue,
Please do not send your payment to the Fresno, CA 93705 $2.00 more than one issue.
secretary -treasurer prior to receiving your Please select substitutes in case
otice. Paul Holley we are out of any of above.
620 Ohio St.
NEW MEMBERS
Racine, WI 53406
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BANDWAGON/JANUARY-FEBRUARY 1991
hotel reservation card as soon as possible The cost of registration will be $65.00 for
1991 CHS CONVENTION to insure adequate rooms. The cost for a members and $60.00 for spouses and
two bedded room will be $60.00. guests. Please send the enclosed hotel card
UPDATE
Those wishing to present a paper should as soon as possible as this convention site
inform Convention Chairman John Po- will be crowded due to the opening of the
Charleston, South Carolina, with its ante lascek of your subject. We will be holding Spoletto Festival which embraces music,
bellum homes, narrow streets and splendid the convention meetings at the College of dance, theatre, art, poetry, comedy and
architecture will be the host of this year's Charleston which borders on Marion crafts throughout the city. There should be
Circus Historical Society gathering from Square, the circus lot for the one ring won- something for everyone.
May 22 to 25. From the Holiday Inn River- der Circus Flora. In addition to papers, the
side we will have a delightful view of the circus, the annual banquet and auction,
Ashley River and the city of Charleston. there will be time to explore this charming
Members need to send in the attached 00 year old city.
By Robert McKay
Do you have our current "E"
catalog?
If not you are missing out.
To order send check for $12.50 to:
We carry the best in "HO" and "0"
Circus Kits, Books, Posters
and collectables.
We've got something for
Brass Ring Press evrybody.
3827 Drakewood Dr. Send $4.00 to:
Cincinnati, Ohio 45209 CIRCUS STAR SUPPLIES
3037 Grass Valley Hwy.
Auburn CA 95603
CIRCUS EXPRESS
america's finest big -top tours
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experienced trauel professionals Within A: 617-661-3311 Cambridge MA 02138
BANDWAGON/JANUARY-FEBRUARY 1991 3
EY FREE D. FFENING III Patrons awaiting the opening of an af-
ternoon performance at the Circus World
Museum. Greg Parkinson photo.
he merry-go-round stopped in and exhibition of animals. All this was
..r, 1990. After a succession of good part of a larger trend in American society to snip the chains of the three as they
seasons through the mid and late that impacted the medical, cosmetic, fur, shouted animal rights messages.
1980s, the circus industry was jolted back and many other industries as customary The circus industry, like many others,
to real life as the economy edged into a re- uses of animals, in laboratory testing for increasingly took action to counter the
cession in late summer. While the year example, came under increased fire. claims of the animal rightists. Almost eve-
was nowhere near as devastating as 1842, The animals rights movement was com- ry show's souvenir program took pains to
1893, or 1938 when nearly the entire busi- posed of many groups spanning the spec- assure the public that it treated its an-
ness went into a tail spin, many managers trum from cat lovers to radical vegetar- imals in a humane and dignified manner.
reported business off significantly with ians who advocated banning pet The tiny Royal Lichtenstein Circus clev-
one stating in July that grosses were off ownership. They went by such names as erly got across this message by means of a
15-20%. Another noted that New Eng- Fund for Animals, People for the Ethical charming testimonial by the show's mon-
land, which had experienced the down- Treatment of Animals, the Animal Rights key about life on the road and in the ring.
turn before most of the nation, was a par- Community, Animal Advocates, even As- Ringling-Barnum went a step further by
ticularly difficult area in 1990. A third sociation of Veterinarians for Animal passing out a leaflet headed "Don't Be
commented that people stayed away in Rights. One thing nearly all the organiza- Fooled by the Demonstrators." A number
droves after the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait tions had in common was a revulsion to- of show people joined a group called Put-
in August. That event increased the cost ward the exhibition of animals in circuses. ting People First which among other
of gasoline, sending nuts through the roof While the usual form of protest was things lobbied against animal rights leg-
at precisely the time audiences were simply to picket performances and pass islation.
dwindling. While a few shows closed ear- out leaflets, in at least one case the protest Animal advocates took another blow
ly and others lost money, most came back spilled over into the realm of civil dis- when Bobby l3erosini, who had been ac-
winners --though marginally so. obedience. At an August 30 performance cused of mistreating the orangutans in his
Animal rights groups were particularly of Ringling-Barnum at San Francisco's Las Vegas show, was awarded $4.2 mil-
nasty with virtually all circuses with an- Cow Palace, three demonstrators dressed lion by the court when he won his in-
imals being picketed. Equally vexing as clowns were arrested after they had vasion of privacy and defamation suit. Al-
were the ever expanding number of feder- chained themselves to a high wire sup- though the judgement was later cut to $3.1
al, state, and local restrictions on the care port cable. Prop hands used bolt cutters million and animal rights spokespersons
4 BANDWAGON/JANUARY-FEBRUARY 1991
Don't Be Fooled going back to rail transport Bridgeport, Connecticut, former home of
By The Demonstrators and cutting the size of the Barnum and Baile was visited in mid
show. While the impact will July. It missed Philadelphia for the first
During the past year. Rangling Bros. and For 120 years, Ringlang Bros and Barnum be seen until the 1991 and time in years as the Shrine sponsor
Ba asmrnau0m g &ro uBpa iolef yv oCciracl udse hmaos rboetreant ohras: asseseeitt!h ibgy &pr oBvaidileedy tCoipr cquuse hasays ctraeraetdm feonet mtoa envaegreyd kainndd 992 seasons, it almost cer- switched circuses In all the 35 week tour
troag derda "wa nVimDaUl rSig shutsp.p" oItd L tio t athmeei ry voiue lwcnse ewl ethne- ohfa veero atliwc aaynsd tdreoamteeds taicn da nriemspael citmeda goiunra balnei.m Wales tainly will change the phys- covered 8700 miles in eighteen states,
truth about the real motives behind these as friends -Just u you tress aryl rthpect your
detnonstninsra pet at home- ical landscape of the industry, playing mostly two and three day dates.
yourT lhoev e" aonli amnaiml railgsh, tws"h egnro Iunp fsa catp, pthecayl atroe sheltWer ca nfdee md.e dcliceaaln c, agrreo foomr ,o ubre eaendim, palrso.v Widee and certainly increase oper- four one dayers were made.
tvriyeiwngs -t o" troatiasle lmiboenreayti oton "p roofm MotIe a tnhiems'ra lrsa dhiocranl wanoicmka, lpsl a5y6,5 t rdaavyels 'asn-tdi nliev pe rsoidmeotityinaigd ea mhethal othuyr ating osts. Reports indicated that business was ex-
-humIann acuswtoodryld." ceded by radical "animal ehxucmhaannsg earbda nadninicaolam Apanndi.o wnseh tirpain btheetwme eton At year's end there was cellent in Southern towns in the spring,
risthts" tpoups, humans and animals would perform athletk routines to provide enlightm pessimism about the fu- but was down in New Enland, the result
have equal value. As their founder proudly mem. educttion and entertainment for you -
boasted. "...a rata a pig is a dog Ls a boy." using the same methods you use to than your ture than had been evidenced of a depressed economy and opposition
They would release all "captive" animals dog to "sit up** rw "catch a frisbee."
into Me mid and permit no contact between Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Batley in years as showmen ex- from another show which jumped in
burner., and antmals. Thom would be a world arctat win 'cuter in animal vndrare long
with no min, no circuses, no farms, no pet before it became a fashionable cause. We pected the soft business to ahead of Beatty -Cole dates. Nevertheless,
shows and even no pets In your home Ibu proudty stand on our record of ethical.re.
would not be permitted to drink nab, eat sponsible and humane treatment of our an, into the next season. the company went in a winner.
eggs or even to wear wnol or silkl
Don't confuse these radical view* with So, don't be fooled by demonstrators who In spite of the gloom, circuses New acts included Rex Horton and his
animal "welfare." or the ethical, responsible try to gain your dipport and your money, by
and humane treatment and care of animals. pLwing upon ycnir heartfelt love of darnels. lf in 990 carried on as they had bears, the Kiebo clown troupe which did
Elimvesr yabnodd By,a rMnuclmud &in gB athilee yp eCoaprlaet os.f lRovinegsJ ainngd tbhee ilre fgto ianl ta w ceorkei two obrel da cvhAietvheodu,t wene lwmoaul lcdo amll since John Ricketts, offerMg a a comedy camel routine and the Kristovs
aridshoerse st haelilr nfraiteunrdes'sh iIpr.ving creatures and che- panlona huge variety of entertainment who did a leap for life cradle
presented in virtually every gling and motorcycle act. Among re-
possible venue from giant turning talent were oJsip Marcan and his
If how/1 1t1oLso4nMt.nL WoIN nWuo, MO66N 6.. oTtoh oti.ot1fk.ort to prem..* OCIttat011 ANIMA.i.Lv pWIIILn arenas in metropolitan cen- cats, the Bale sisters with their ltherty
ters to empty fields in cmss- horses, Ron and Mitzi Gill in an aerial
oad s number, the Flying Gaonas, and Fred Lo-
The tented crcus, while no gan with ten elephants. Jimmy James was
Stveht.--- longer the major force in the the ringmaster and James Haverstrom
Ststx-Itp was still a highly was in charge of the only live band car-
Cot,
ble and viable means of ried by any of the three big tenters.
ickpboor-i-
presentaton, running the On the equipment front the company
gambit from Big Apple to added a new hydraulic canvas spool,
Copies of this leaflet were passed out Phills Bros. and from Carson and Barnes lighting sstem, a workingmans' seeper,
at performances of the Ringling-Barnum to Fisher Bros. With some notable excep- and three semi -trailers. The trucks were
Circus. tions it became more and more a small all diesels for the first time. These changes
town and suburban phenomenon as ur- were part of an ongoing program to up
vowed Berosini would never see a nickel banites generally saw their circuses in a gade the physical plant initiated soon af-
of the award the verdict sent a message building. ter Pugh and Holwadel took over. Only
to animal that its ac- The Clyde Beatty -Cole Bros. Circus, three trailers were still in use from the Jer-
tions could be costly. In spite of encour- owned by John Pugh and Doug Hol- ry Collins years.
ging indications such as the Berosini de - wadel, opened in its home town of De- The show assisted in a circus parade se-
on the volcanic issue of circus animals land Florida on March 23. As in the past, quence in the movie Avalon and was the
showed few signs of tormenting sho the show steamed northward along the subject of a documentary on the Fox net-
men any less by ears end. eastern seaboard, reaching the mid - work. Advance clown Elmo Gibb (nee
Two other issues were important. Fur- Atlantic states in early May. Most of the Dean Chambers) had his finances
ther legal restrictions and an increasingly summer was spent in New England, New sected in Money magazine.
negative public perception of phone so- York, and New Jersey. The homeward Carson and Barnes, headed by D. R.
licitation were cause for alarm in some trek started in early September, playing Miller, also had a fair season apparently
quarters. For example, a bill was intro- through the South before closing at Palm somewhat below levels of the late 1980s.
duced in Ohio to require phone solicitors Beach, Florida on November 24. Fishkill, Starting off from ars Texas on March
to tell prospective donors that a pro- New York, birthplace of I. A. Van Am - 24, it played the small towns which were
fessional fund raising firm was running burgh, was an early June stand, and its life's blood in the southwestern moun-
the solicitation, and for the firm to file fi- tain and plains states before going to the
nancial reports with the attorney general Beatty -Cole big top from the backyard Midwest in late une It headed east in
ninety days after each fund raising cam- during the November 8-9 Naples, Florida early September, going into territory not
paign. The concern in some segments of engagement. Joe Bradbury photo. usually on its route in Marland, Virginia,
the business was that civic and other
groups traditionally using circuses with
phone rooms would be less likely to en-
gage them because they would be po
tentially less profitable.
Another important development was
regulations requiring a national driver's
license, granted only after passing a
ficult test, for drivers of semi trucks and
trailers over a certain weight. Another
provision was mandatory drug testing.
The new rules had until April 1, 1992 to
be fully implemented. Managers studied
a number of coping strategies, including
BANDWAGON/JANUARY-FFRRUARY 1991 5
North Carolina South Carolina and
eoria then turning west to play
through the South and Southwest before
going into the barn on November 11. The
odometers added a over 14000 miles
the year The last of the one
night stand circuses it played only four
two day dates plus five days in Baltimore
which were a bust.
of rain and wind hampered thc
troupe in the spring The show was
caught in a freak flash flood in Houston,
Pennsylvania early on the morning of
September 7. It lost many concession
items and encountered endless equip
ment problems as a result. Many of the
showfolks lost their personal beogings. Carson and Barnes midway and big top ogels, flying trapeze. Buckles VVoodcock
Miraculously, only two towns were can- at Cartersville, Georgia on October 16. headed the elephant department for the
celled as the performance went on as Joe Bradbury photo. first month of the season before leaving
scheduled at Cumberland, Maryland on after a personnel dispute. Veteran Rex
September 9. Photos of the flood made packed 'em in in the West, but did less Williams, who was oodcock's assistant,
the national news. well in other regions. returned to the top pachyderm job.
Carson and Barnes carried more an- Rumors flew throughout the year that The Big Apple Circus, headed by
imals than oah. The four footed in- the show was being sold with Kenneth founder Paul Binder was the Rolls Royce
ventory included 22 elephants a pigmy Feld's and Dory Miller's names being of the industry. It opened its summer tour
hippo a giraffe, a white rhinoceros lots of most prominently mentioned. The issue in Queens in April, moved to Boston for a
lead stock and about 30 horses and po was settled about mid -season when Ro- very successful three and a half weeks for
nies. The giraffe died in Texas in early land Kaiser, the show's concession boss, the Children's Museum then returned to
May, but was soon replaced by another. bought Bailey's share, maldng Kaiser part New York for appearances in the other
An effort was made to artificially in- of a long and honorable tradition of con- boroughs. The show performed in
seminate one of the elephants with the cessionaires moving up to show own- cago from June 13-23 and Columbus from
help of the Portland Zoo's extraordinarily ership. June 6-ul 1. Both towns were new ter-
successful breeding program. New equipment included a generator, ritory for Big Apple; reports indicated
The program was similar to previous Kenworth tractor, a menagerie tent, Chicago was a bust, but Columbus was
years with Pat White, cats; Luciana oyal, grease joint trailer, and spec banners. The not so bad. The rest of the summer was
pad riding; Donnie Carr elephants; Israel petting zoo and 19 horses were eliminat- spent New England, closing at Shelburne,
and Oscar Portugal, high wire; Vital fami- ed along with the semi which transported Vermont on August 5. After starting the
ly, archery; and three flying acts, the Pa- them, leaving 21 semis to move the show. winter season near Washington in Oc-
dillas, the oemas, and the Ramirez. Animals included ten ponies, eleven hors- tober, the company went back home to
Tropical Treasures was the name of the es, a dozen elephants, three camels, two Manhattan for the big Lincoln Center date
new spec; the Roaring Twenties walk - zebra hybrids, and a llama. from October 25 to January 6.
around was a holdover. Taped music Among the performers in the two and a The Grandma Goes West summer
backed up the acts. All this took place un- half hour performance were the Olate theme was virtually the same as the one
der a top approximately 150 by 400' brothers, dogs; the Mayas, living statues; at Lincoln Center the previous winter.
which sat about 3000. Wayne Regan, cats; the Quiroga family, The Loyal -Suarez riders, David Rosaire
General Manager Jim Judkins route high wire; and the Neves and the Rod - and his dogs, and trick roper Vince Bruce
book was perhaps the finest published by were among the in -ring talent. Aerialist
any show since Cole Bros. in 1937. Full of Circus Vargas owners Joe Muscarello Pedro Reis was severely injured in a fall
wry, witty omments and at times hilari- (I.) and Roland Kaiser during the Chicago in Danbury, Connecticut in early July. He
ously cynical and touchingly poignant re- run. Sheelagh Jones photo. was replaced by Sasha Pavlata for the re-
marks, the volume was a co mainder of the summer
mentary on high grass showmanship in tour.
the late 20th century Near season's end, The title the new
Pat White announced her retirement after winter show was "Ba
being a fixture in the lions den for years. lerinas, Horses and
It was a transition year for Circus Var- Clowns . The Golden
. .
gas. In the first full season since the death Age." The elegant per-
founder Cliff Vargas owners Jack Ba ormance was a throw
ley and Joe Muscarello routed an ex- back to the 19th century
tended West Coast tour from January 12 with most of the pe
through end of August, then jumped ormers wearing old-time
the
into the Chicago area where the show re- ostumes; in fact one ob
mained from early September to mid - server remarked that it
October. The trek back to winter quarters was like a Barnum and
in Arizona took the tmupe through Iowa, Bailey poster coming to
Missouri Oldahoma and Texas closing life. In the presentation
in El Paso in late November A few dates Susanna Svenson did a
were indoors. Accounts indicate Vargas pad riding act and a com.
6 BANDWAGON+JANUARY-FEBRUARY 1991
The performance included contortion,
teeterboard, single trapeze, aerial straps,
tightwire, and foot juggling, all in-
tegrated into the story line and presented
without announcements. While most of
the performers were French-Canadians
who had gone through the troupe's Ecole
National de Cirque in Montreal, the roster
also included Russian and Chinese trou-
pers, and an American clown named Da-
vid Shiner who was apparently the star of
the production.
Circus Flora, David Balding's contribu-
tion to the arenic world, called its per-
formance "Back to the Bayou II --The Saga
Continues." Flora was unique in having
its theme run not only through the per-
formance but
from season to
season, following
the adventures of
the fictional Bal-
edy riding turn with husband Carlos, Kat- Big Apple Circus on the lot at Shel- dini circus family
ja Schumann presented liberty horses, Da- bourne, Vermont, August 4. Timothy in mid -19th cen-
vid Dimitri had a fascinating comedy low Tegge photo. tury America.
wire act in which he imitated a mar- The one ring
ionette, Ben and Darlene Williams with the general public unanimously perceived tenter opened in
their daughters Stormy and Skye pre- the performance as such. St. Louis in late
sented the elephants Anna May and Ned, It was an expansion year as the com- May for a little
the Panteleenko brothers performed an pany had a second unit in London from over a week. It
aerial routine, and the Alexis brothers did July to September under a tent on the appeared there
a hand balancing act. David Casey, John Thames, and in Paris' venerable Cirque again from Au-
Lepiarz, and Barry Lubin were clowns d'Hiver late in the year. On this continent, gust 30 to Sep-
Oaf, Fish and Grandma. The performance the show opened at Montreal, its home tember 9, and fol-
emphasized the strong production values town, in May. The American run started lowed by a few
that charactered this circus with great in Seattle on July 5, after which it played days each in
lighting, costumes, and music. Much of San Francisco, San Jose, and Santa Monica South Bend, In-
the latter was specially written by bands - through mid -December. diana; Dearborn,
woman Linda Hudes. A new tent was used for the one ring Michigan; and
presentation. The 164' air conditioned Bath, Ohio where
Borrowing heavily from the musical round top increased seating to 2500
theater, Cirque du Soleil, founded by Guy which allowed the top price at some dates Cover of Circus Flora program issued in
Laliberte, called its production the Nou- to drop to $29.50. Thirty-four beautifully South Bend, Indiana.
velle Experience. This animaless new wa- painted semi -trailers moved the com-
ver, which catered to upscale urbanites, pany. the itinerary ended on September 30. The
was criticized within the profession for troupe also operated a circus school in St.
not retaining enough traditional elements Cirque du Soleil, Canada's new wave Louis, its winter quarters town.
of the ring to even be called a circus, al- show, on the beach at Santa Monica, Cal- Among the performers on at least the
though in a sense the point was moot as ifornia. Jerry Cash photo. late summer run were the Dancing Gau-
chos, aerialist Sasha Pavlata, Pickle Fami-
ly Circus founder and clown Larry Pisoni,
and the Suarez -Loyal and Zoppe riding
families. The riding turns, one of which
featured a ten person bareback act,
brought together some of the top eques-
trian talent in the country and were par-
ticularly strong. A bad mishap occurred
at Bath on September 30 when Giovanni
Zoppe fell during an aerial routine. Only
the intercession of Alberto Zoppe, his fa-
ther, in breaking his fall saved him from
even more severe injuries.
A five year old African elephant named
McClain filled in for Flora on the late
summer dates. The namesake elephant
and other show animals were leased at
the time to a performance art production
called 'The Endangered Species Show"
BANDWAGON/JANUARY-FEBRUARY 1991 7
that opened October 2 at the Brooklyn
Academy of Music. This show, which
closed early, was characterized by a critic
as a "complex, visually -rich piece that
linked the ecological destruction of the
earth with the dark, aggressively ob-
sessive drives of human nature," which
presumably meant it wasn't a show for
kids.
Allan C. Hill's Great American Circus
had a five week winter tour in Florida in
January and February. The regular season
began near Orlando in early March.
Working its way up the East Coast, it
spent two weeks in April in South Car-
olina. Most of the summer was spent in
New Jersey, New York, and New Eng-
land. It closed in Florida in mid -
November. Entrance to Allen Hill's Great American of his circus' performance by presenting
The show used a 120' round top with Circus at Naples, Florida on March 7. Joe the cat and elephant turns and assisting in
two 30' and one 40' middle sections; it sat Bradbury photo. other routines. Other presentations were
about 1500. The midway had two moon made by Curtis Cainan, juggling, dogs,
bounces, a pony ride, snake show, conces- Taylor, a Circus Kingdom alumnus, in and revolving ladder; Paul and Cindy
sion wagon, novelty stand, a petting zoo low wire and single trapeze presenta- Lee, magic; Tina Brown, ponies; and the
with 34 goats, and a menagerie with el- tions. Two exceptional acts for a show Gilbertos, hand balancing. Paul Lee was
ephant and camel rides. Animals in- this size were Josef, Christina and Va- the ringmaster, and the music was taped.
cluded seven elephants, of which five nessa Kiss in a fine hand balancing turn, The Earl family's Roberts Bros. Circus
were Africans; two camels; eight ponies and Terry Fenne with a single elephant opened at a Florida Air Force base on
and a horse. act in which the bull, named Nina, did a March 17, and played up the East Coast,
Louise Rosell's four uncaged leopards, one foot stand and later turned ninety de- reaching Maryland on April 30. After a
Bill Brickle's poodles, Jorge Rosell's funny grees to do a front foot stand on a plank. summer tour of Mid -Atlantic states, Penn-
Ford, the Osario brothers' trampoline and Wayne Franzen's Franzen Bros. Circus sylvania, and New England, it headed
trapeze turns, and Eddie Steeple's chimps did not publish its route making in- back to Florida in September, closing in
and bears were among the acts in the formation on its itinerary sketchy. What is Brandon on October 20. The equipment
ninety minute presentation. Bill Brickle known is that the show was in Florida in was pulled by six show -owned semis.
and Brian LaPalme, who also did magic March, Pennsylvania and New York in Among the acts were Chris Schreiber,
and fire eating, shared the announcing. May, June, and July, and the Midwest in Lisa the elephant; Yvonne Stephans, dogs,
Jack Forseen lead the three piece band, July through at least September. pony and llama; and Brent DeWitt, break-
and Mike Ridenour headed clown alley. It used a new four pole European style away bike. Of special note was a rabbit
At least one observer noted that the per- big top from A-1 Tent in Sarasota. The act presented by Bill Schreiber. His charg-
formance and over-all appearance of the 116' round top was erected for the first es-named Thumper, Daisy, Eunice and
show was the best in years. time in New York state in June. The mid- Eddie-did the same routines as seen in
The Kelly -Miller Circus, headed by Da- way had a moon bounce, pony ride, con- dog acts such as climb a ladder, jump a
vid Rawls, was routed north instead of cession trailer, novelty stand, three el- hurdle and through a hoop, and go down
south out of its Hugo winter quarters for ephants, and a menagerie of lead stock a slide. While not confirmed, it appeared
the first time. After the March 24 Hugo under a top. The company moved behind that Mr. Bill's Bunnies, as the act was
opening, the show moved into Arkansas, seven show -owned steering wheels. called, were the first performing rabbits
Missouri, and Illinois in April. The sum- Franzen distinguished himself as the on an American circus since a group of
mer was spent in the Midwest with most only show owner who was a key element the rodents appeared on Al G. Barnes in
of July in Michigan, most of August in 1923. Don Gillette opened the year as
Wisconsin and most of September in In- Kelly -Miller paraded in Ann Arbor, Mich- ringmaster with Phil Chandler taking
diana and Illinois. No route information igan in June. Terry Fenne leads the el- over the duties into the season. Chandler
was available after an October 6 Missouri ephant. Fred Pfening, Jr. photo. also did magic in the show. Unlike many
engagement.
The three year old Scola Teloni tent was
approximately 100' by 300', and the equip-
ment was carried on thirteen show -
owned vehicles. The combined side show
and menagerie, under a 90' by 50' top, in-
cluded three camels, two goats, a llama, a
pot bellied pig named Melvin, a tiger and
an elephant Side show turns included
magic, blade box, fire eating, and Punch
and Judy, all presented by Ted Tutwiler.
Acts included Christina Dubsky with
her dogs, John Dubsky with four mini-
ature liberty horses, Kurt and Heidi Ca-
sady in an aerial cradle routine, and Ken
8 BANDWAGON/JANUARY-FEBRUARY 1991
and fall was spent in the Midwest and
plains states before heading to the South-
west where the tour ended at Payson, Ar-
izona on October 17.
Rain, mud, wind and even a tornado
plagued the show in Colorado and Kan-
sas in June. As had been done in past sea-
sons, the troupe played a number of dates
at western Air Force bases. The physical
plant grew a bit as it took seventeen show
and privately owned vehicles to carry the
equipment and personnel. The tent, in its
second year, sat around 650.
Vidbel's Old Tyme Circus on the lot. A new addition to the performing ros-
r
Paul Gutheil photo. ter were Ron Pace and Chris Kennington
Discount ELCIt12,11:1.drTicket
who as Sugar and Spice did a perch and
Coupon
circuses its size, Roberts used a three aerial cradle act. Other acts Included
piece band rather than recordings. $200 LOCATION:S Wpoildrt sW Aersetna r Lynn Jacobs, single trapeze; Terrell Jacobs
Vidbel's Old Tyme Circus, a one ringer Adult Discount - Stephenville III, bull whip; Heidi Wendany, dogs and
owned by Al Vidbel, traveled in the East On General DATES& Sat., Sept. 15 - 7:00 pm dressage riding on Excaliber; Bill Burger,
Admission TIMES: Sun., Sept. 16 - 3:00 & 7:00 pm
from May to September, with lots of ac- At The Gate Admit 2 children under 11 years FREE ponies; Jim Zajicek, single elephant. A
tion in New Jersey. Martha's Vineyard, an adwmhiesns iaocnc osmubpjaencite tdo b sye aadtu altv paailiadbility. j two person band backed up the acts.
island off the Massachusetts coast, was a a -Stephenville Police Assoc. & Reid Bros. John "Gopher" Davenport's King -Royal
repeat three day stand in August. Proudly Present The Circus didn't leave many tracks from its
Under canvas talent included Susan journeys. Only a handful of verified dates
Vidbel's exotic birds, Jennifer Vidbel's po- were recorded, but they indicated the
nies, the Zachary gauchos, Bucky Steele's show was out from at least from March to
elephants, and clowns Dime and Connie Under The Gigantic Big Top! November, and appeared in the south-
Wilson. Billy Martin was ringmaster, and western, western, and plains states, and
3
Bill Gibson led a three piece band. Big Rings the Midwest and South. In late October a
John and Betty Reid's Reid Bros. Circus second unit was put out under the direc-
Of
had a two tours. The spring -summer itin- tion of brother Termite Davenport.
Family Fun!
erary started at Brookings, Oregon on The midway had a number of ding
April 19 and ended at Marshalltown, shows operated by Shorty Shears and his
See An Old Time
Minnesota on July 17. In between the Circus - Like It Was wife. Stock included three goats, a mule, a
mountain and plains states were visited. Meant To Be pony, a llama, three lions, three tigers,
After playing Boulder, Colorado on Sep- * Ferocious Jungle Cats and the elephants Tommy and Boo. The
tember 8, the fall route got into gear with * Illusions by LARAF big top was an 80' round with three 30'
a month long series of Texas badge dates. * DeathDetying Aerial Acts middles from Nashville Tent. Among the
The show used a 120' round top with * Dazzling Aerial Beauties acts in the hour and a half exhibition were
*A Herd of Elephants
three 50' middle sections. On the first trek * Clowns Galore Jack Gobble with the elephants; John Dav-
the acts included Chris Kilpatrick with * Fantastic Horse Revues enport with the cats; the Castellio family
cats, Bobby and Rosa Gibbs with the Don- * Plus many more exciting acts in contortion, rola bola, and tight wire
nie Johnson elephants, the Flying Star- Brought 10 you by routines; and the Rumanians with a tee-
Smiles. Inc
lings, and the La Martis, living statues. terboard and slack wire act. Julius Setzer
Gibbs was ringmaster, which must have Newspaper ad for Reid Bros. Circus was the announcer.
which was one of the many shows work- Bentley Bros. Circus, owned by Tommy
Bobby Gibbs, John "Gopher" Davenport ing under police auspices. Bobby Gibbs Bentley and Chuck Clancy, played under
and Ken "Turtle" Benson posed for this collection. auspices at fairgrounds and ball parks
photo on Davenport's King -Royal circus in (and on occasion, indoors) the three ring
Texas in the fall. Bobby Gibbs photo. been like hearing Sinatra sing. The fall troupe conducted two tours. The spring
roster was similar. trek covered the Southwest and West
The Culpepper and while the summer itinerary meandered
Merriweather Circus, through the Midwest and East. Acts on
headed by Robert "Red" the spring roster included Eddie Schmidt,
Johnson, opened in late tigers; Diane Moyer, elephants, liberty po-
February in Arizona nies, and dogs; Jim and Tepa Hall, bears;
where it played through Constantin troupe, teeterboard; Possos,
early April. A California high wire; and the Castrajons, wheel of
tour from April 5 to death. Jerry Eyestone was the ringmaster,
May 26 followed, after and Kevin King, the band leader. The per-
which the show headed sonnel changed somewhat on the summer
east through the moun- tour. Before the season started, Bentley's
tain and plains states. headquarters moved from California to
The annual engagement Florida.
in Chicago occurred Ray Valentine's Circus Valentine had
from June 27 -July 6, and dates from June 19 to July 8 in Arkansas
the rest of the summer and Texas, and from October 6-14 in Tex-
BANDWAGON/JANUARY-FEBRUARY 1991 9
ringer, framed on three trucks, deserveda
better fate.
The tent was a blue and white Eu-
ropean style top from A-1 Tent of Sar-
asota, 85' in diameter and seating 700. Un-
der it appeared Middy Streeter, clown
juggler; Alexander Slaugotnis, Latvian
clown; Tanya Herrman, bareback riding,
and foot juggling; Linda LaTorres, liberty
horses; Mike LaTorres, Stoney the el-
ephant; and Fabrini Bizzarro, single tra-
peze. Dan Buckley was ringmaster for the
first month. The music was recorded.
Another new company was Fisher Bros.
Circus, backed by Torchy Townsend and
headed by Mel Silverlake, using equip-
ment leased in part from Duke Keller's
Wilder Bros. Circus which did not tour in
1990. After opening in Florida in April,
the show played southern and border
states before going in the barn early. The
Owner Allen Bedford in front of his con-
cession trailer. Fred Pfening, Jr. photo.
as, both in grandstands and indoors. Per-
formers on the summer engagements in-
cluded Pierre Spenley and the Zerbini ti-
gers, Christopher James Plunkett on the
tight wire, clown Johnny Meah, Billy Bar-
ton with his cloud swing, the Possos high
wire routine, the Bauer bears, the Reinand
chimps, Chip Arthur with the Zerbini el-
ephants, and the Flying Valentines. Peter
Sturgis was the ringmaster. At Houston a
special feature was Bob Atterbury's rocket
car.
Allen Bros. Circus, owned by Allen
Bedford, also didn't publish its route; in
fact, although it opened on March 17, its
whereabouts were unknown before ap- amar. Leon Pinter was the keyboardist for Circus Jaeger on the lot at Mound City,
pearing in Pennsylvania in early May. A the season's first six weeks, after which Kansas opening on April 29. Orin King
handful of Midwestern dates were con- taped music was used. photo.
firmed during the summer, as were ones Circus Jaeger, owned by former Big
in Arkansas in August, Kansas in Sep- Apple staffer Eric Jaeger, was a new en- original plan was to close in Indiana
tember and Texas in October. try. It debuted in its home town of around Labor Day. Silverlake did how-
The midway had a pony ride, elephant Mound City, Kansas on April 29 and ever take out an indoor Christmas show.
ride moon bounce, petting zoo, conces- played the plains states, Midwest and The midway had a pony ride, moon
sions, and the ticket wagon. Among the East before dying in upstate New York in bounce, Bobby Green's big snake show,
a
acts were Earlynn Bedford as Natasha July. By all accounts the beautiful one giant guinea pig show, concession stands,
with the cats, Tom Teak with Popcorn the and a side show -menagerie with magic
midget horse, and the Aarons duo with a Guthrie Bros. Circus ticket semi in and fire eating. The 60' by 90' tent sat ap-
juggling routine. George Rowe was the Mechanicsburg, Ohio. Fred Pfening, Jr. proximately 1600. In the one ring pres-
ringmaster and also did magic as Kal- photo. entation Ken Benson and later Unity
Whitworth worked Queen Tusk the el-
ephant, Jane Randall had dog and horse
routines, and Jackie Brafford did a bird
act. Ringmaster Lance Gifford also did
magic. For certainly the first time in
American circusing, the clown alley was
all female.
Pat and Ray Guthrie started their Guth-
rie Bros. Circus at Duluth, Georgia on
May 4. It played the South, border states
and Midwest through at least August
when route information became non-
existent. It moved on five show -owned
10 BANDWAGON/JANUARY-FEBRUARY 1991